Hajiyev: No change in Karabakh conflict talks format
By Abdul Kerimkhanov
Despite the regular attempts by Armenia to involve the separatists in the peace talks over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Baku adheres to the format coordinated with the international mediation.
"There are two parties to the conflict, namely, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the negotiations are being held in this format," Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend on May 14.
He said a brief conversation between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held in Brussels on May 13 as part of the event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative.
Regarding Pashinyan’s statement, Hajiyev said the main reason for the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is Armenia’s aggressive policy.
PA head mentioned that after the end of the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, progress can be achieved in the conflict settlement and peace in the region can be ensured.
The two-day Eastern Partnership Summit, involving the presidents and/or prime ministers of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia, ended on May 14.
Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Vienna on March 29. These were the first official talks between them. The parties then agreed to implement a number of humanitarian initiatives.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries arose in 1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions - 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan - are under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces.
In May 1994, the parties reached a ceasefire regime, and so far, under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group and with the co-chairmanship of Russia, France and the United States, there are still unsuccessful peace negotiations.
The four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on the liberation of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent territories have not yet been implemented by Armenia.
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